W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 43
FA C T BO O K / D O I N G B U S I N E S S I N M A I N E
B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S
Where to find business resources in Maine
Start with the SBA and FAME
T
he Small Business Administration's Small Business Resource Guide for Maine has
been updated to include all the latest programs and contact information.
Amy K. Bassett, district director of the SBA's Maine District Office, can help
businesses with any questions, at 207-622-8382.
Small business dominates the landscape in Maine. e SBA offers help for
companies in the start-up phase, expansion or transition. In many cases, the infor-
mation applies also to larger businesses.
For startups, there are a number of resources: SCORE, the Maine Small Business
Development Centers and the Women's Business Center. Even if you have owned
a business before, the mentors and counselors of the SBA resource partners can
provide you with helpful insight and a fresh perspective — all of which is free or
at nominal cost.
In the same way the SBA offers help for businesses nationwide, the Finance
Authority of Maine steps in to help in-state businesses.
FAME offers commercial loan insurance, direct loans, credit initiatives and
much more.
"Without FAME, less investment would go into Maine's economy," says Bruce
Wagner, FAME's CEO. "A lot of businesses and jobs would not exist."
Maine SBA staff listing
District Director
Amy K. Bassett
207-622-8382
amy.bassett@sba.gov
Deputy District Director
Diane L. Sturgeon
207-622-8286
diane.sturgeon@sba.gov
Senior Area Manager — Portland
Brad Currie
207-248-9040
bradley.currie@sba.gov
Senior Area Manager — Bangor
James E. Pineau
207-945-2021
james.pineau@sba.gov
Economic Development Specialist
William S. Card
207-622-8555
william.card@sba.gov
Lender Relations Specialist
Ed Carballo
207-622-8383
eduardo.carballo@sba.gov
Program Support Assistant
Keith E. Lind
207-622-8551
keith.lind@sba.gov
District Counsel
Mark S. O'Brien
207-622-8558
mark.obrien@sba.gov
Procurement Center Representative
— Northern New England
Keith E. Waye
207-622-8554
keith.waye@sba.gov
Maine District Office
The Maine District Office delivers SBA's programs and services.
Amy K. Bassett, Director
Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building
68 Sewall St., Room 512, Augusta, 04330
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
For program and service information:
Marketing Division, 207-622-8551
For information on financing:
Ed Carballo, 207-622-8383 or eduardo.carballo@sba.gov
Services available
Financial assistance for new
or existing businesses through
guaranteed loans.
Free counseling, advice and
information on starting, operating
or expanding a small business
through SCORE — Counselors to
America's Small Business, Small
Business Development Centers and
Women's Business Centers.
Assistance to businesses owned
and controlled by socially and
economically disadvantaged
individuals through the Business
Development Program.
Assistance for women business
owners; contact Diane Sturgeon,
207-622-8286 or diane.sturgeon@
sba.gov.
Loan programs for businesses
involved in international trade.
An officer is available to assist
veterans. In northern Maine, contact
James Pineau, 207-945-2021 or
james.pineau@sba.gov; in southern
Maine, contact William Card, 207-
622-8555 or william.card@sba.gov.
Counseling
The U.S. Small Business Administration and its network of resource partners help
millions of potential and existing small business owners every year. Whether your
target market is your neighborhood or global, the SBA and its resource partners
can help turn your dream into a thriving business.
The SBA helps those starting out with business and financing plans. Those
already in business can use SBA resources to expand, get government contracts,
recover from disaster or find foreign markets or federal contracts.
Access SBA information at www.sba.gov or visit a local office.
